Entrepreneurs: Do You Feel Guilty?
Entrepreneur Joys
As a entrepreneur you have to make decisions on a daily basis. Most the time those decisions will be in favour of business but now and again you may put yourself first. With those odd occasions where you are put first, do you feel guilty?
I remember the first time I decided to buy myself a new suit after just starting my business. I had 14 month old twins at the time as well so had double guilt. All I could think about is why should I spend money on myself when the girls are growing very quickly, and my business is in its infancy. I had suits I could wear so why waste money. In the end, I did buy a suit but I felt guilty for ages afterwards.
As entrepreneurs, we constantly put our business and others before us. We put our needs to the back and focus on ensuring our business thrives and our family have everything they need. The problem with that is we become exhausted and underwhelmed. Our dreams and aspirations seem to disappear to the distance. The impact this has is the opposite to want you are trying to achieve.
You end up burnt out, fed up and starting to regret your decisions in life.
To become a good entrepreneur, it isn’t about giving your business everything you have. It’s about being consistent and realistic. Yes, it will take extra time in the beginning, but it shouldn’t take over your life or mean you miss things you really want. If you don’t look after yourself, you will not be able to support for your business. When you become the person in background, you lose your flame. You become dissatisfied with the life you have and start to resent the choices you made.
I know what this is like. How guilty you feel for wanting more, to be the centre of attention for just a day.
Taking time for you and making sure your aspirations are not left at the door lead to ensuring your business is successful and you enjoy the journey along the way. The better you feel, the more likely your clients and family will feel great and feed off your positive energy.
So How Can You Look After Yourself?
Having a business does make you feel time is not on your side. However, we all have the same 24 hours a day so how you make the most of your time is what makes the difference.
To give you some ideas and get your brain thinking, here are some ideas that could work for you. Split into the time they take, there should be something for everyone, even if you only have five minutes.
Less than 10 minutes:
- Mediation
- Stretches, Yoga, Pilates mini-session
- Journalling
- Read a book
- Listen to your favourite podcast
- Go for a walk
- Stargaze / relax outside
Less than 30 minutes:
- All the above
- Bath with your favourite soaks
- Go for a swim
- Get creative
- Gardening
- Cycling
Other Suggestions:
- Learn a new language
- Golf
- Go shopping
- Bake a cake
- Write a book
- Watch a movie
- Have a spa treatment
Running A Business and Self Care
Feeling guilty is the main reason why us entrepreneurs don’t look after ourselves. When you look at it from the outside, it makes you wonder about the impression you are giving to others. Are you showing them that being an entrepreneur means you sacrifice your dreams and well-being?
Running a business and self care go hand-in-hand. Look after yourself and show your followers and family that life is for living and sharing experiences. Show them that life is about pursuing your dreams while supporting each other, not that you have to pick one or the other.
Make a promise today. Promise you will look after yourself and prioritise your self care every week without feeling guilty, while being the awesome entrepreneur you are.
Want to ask me a question or find out more about how we could work together? Pop over to my contact page and drop me a message.
One of my favourite entrepreneurial quotes:
“One of the huge mistakes people make is that they try to force an interest on themselves. You don’t choose your passions; your passions choose you.” Jeff Bezos